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Report: Police did not violate policy in removing black man

Byron Ragland, center, talks about being asked to leave a Menchie’s frozen-yogurt shop at a protest outside of the Kirkland business in November 2018. (Mike Siegel / Seattle Times)
Associated Press
Byron Ragland, center, talks about being asked to leave a Menchie’s frozen-yogurt shop at a protest outside of the Kirkland business in November 2018. (Mike Siegel / Seattle Times)

KIRKLAND, Wash. – The Kirkland Police Department has ruled that their officers did not violate internal policy when they helped the owner of a frozen yogurt shop expel a black man, Byron Ragland, from the store in November.

The Seattle Times reported the department said Friday that officers handled the call in accordance with “departmental norms” and did not act out of racial bias. However, officers “missed the opportunity to mediate between the employees and Mr. Ragland,” the department said.

Ragland was at a Menchie’s overseeing an outing between a mother and son as part of his work as a court-appointed special advocate.

The store owner called 911 saying his employees felt “scared.” Police arrived, requested his personal information and told him the owner wanted him to leave. Ragland left.

Police later apologized and said the department has a new protocol of responding to such calls.